Exercise

1. If you are under the weather, you are:

a) very sick

b) a little sick

c) very happy

d) a little happy

2) The expression under the weather originally comes from:

a) farmers

b) builders

c) sailors

3) An expression for very happy is:

a) over the moon

b) over the sun

c) over the side

Answers

1. b

2. c

3. a

Read

You’re listening to British Council’s English Online and I’m Nina. Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression under the weather. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Sorry I didn't make it to your party at the weekend. Did you have a nice time?

B: Yes, it was great! But everyone was asking me where you were. We all missed you.

A: Oh, thanks. I was in bed, I'm afraid. I was feeling under the weather.

B: Oh, did you have that cold that everyone's had?

A: I think so.

Under the weather is an extremely common expression, meaning a little ill or sick. We don't use it about serious health problems, but if you have a normal, everyday cold, headache or stomach ache, for example, you can say that you feel under the weather.

The expression comes from the days when sick sailors would rest under the ship's deck, or literally under the weather. I always remember this idiom together with another one, 'over the moon', which means very happy.

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.

You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.